Mike Mettler

Record Cleaning Machine Reviews
Same Time, Both Sides Cleaning Helps Make the Record Doctor X Vacuum Record Cleaning Machine a Serious Next-Gen Player in the VRCM Field
Mike Mettler  |  Feb 01, 2024  |  First Published: Feb 01, 2024  |  20 comments

Recently, we here at AP decided to resume reviewing record cleaning machines (RCMs) on a more consistent basis — but where to start? The new Record Doctor X vacuum record cleaning machine (a.k.a. the RDX VRCM) fit the bill perfectly. It’s an RD series update that offers new features like a bi-directional turning motor that alleviates the need to turn records by hand, and it also sports a vacuum swing arm that vacuums the top surface of an LP while the bottom gets vacuumed by way of a slot under a sweeper strip. Read on to see how well the RDX VRCM cleaned both old and new records alike, and if it’s worth the notable price of admission. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Grado Labs Prestige Red3 Cartridge
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 31, 2024  |  First Published: Jan 31, 2024  |  7 comments

Continuing with our mission this week to help audiophile newbies join us here in the analog-centric listening family without breaking the bank, we now turn our attention to looking at cartridge-upgrade options — and who better to do that with than Grado Labs? Read on to find out how the Brooklyn-based company’s Prestige Red3 cartridge is yet another good entry point for the budding analog-loving audiophile that also serves as a good option for the longstanding AP faithful to consider as well. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Fluance RT81+ Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 29, 2024  |  First Published: Jan 29, 2024  |  6 comments

We get a lot of queries from audiophile newbies asking us how they should start on their turntable journey, so we’re going to address that all-important Q today by focusing on the Fluance RT81+, a new entry-point ’table from the notable Canadian manufacturer. Read on to see all the features and specs for the RT81+ and find out why it’s a good way to bring budding new critical listeners into our vinyl-centric world. . .

Continue Reading >
News
Alice Cooper’s Billion Dollar Babies Cashes in on 50th Anniversary With 180g 3LP “Trillion Dollar” Deluxe Edition on March 8
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 25, 2024  |  First Published: Jan 25, 2024  |  3 comments

Time to collectively shout out a hale and hearty “Hello Hooray” for Alice Cooper’s seminal March 1973 album Billion Dollar Babies, which is officially slated to be feted by what’s being dubbed as the 180g 3LP ”Trillion Dollar” Deluxe Edition via Warner/Rhino on March 8. Read on to see what all the Billion Dollar fuss is and what the bonus material entrails — er, entails. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Hagerman Audio Labs Piccolo Zero MC Headamp
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 22, 2024  |  First Published: Jan 22, 2024  |  7 comments

Jim Hagerman is at it again. The Hagerman Audio Labs head honcho did some soul searching recently about cartridge loading — and while doing so, he in turn came up with the Piccolo Zero MC (moving cartridge) headamp. Read on to see more about Hagerman’s lightbulb moments leading up to creation of the Piccolo Zero, and what it does. . .

Continue Reading >
Interviews
Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney Tells Us Why Their Gut-Wrenching New LP Little Rope Sounds So Powerful on Vinyl, and Why QC’ing the Test Pressing Had a Lot to Do With It
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 19, 2024  |  First Published: Jan 19, 2024  |  3 comments

The impetus for Sleater-Kinney’s powerful, personal, and punishing new LP Little Rope — out today, January 19, 2024, on Loma Vista — emerged from a devasting event experienced by one of their co-founding bandmembers. During a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist Corin Tucker discussed why listening to test pressings remains such an important part of the band’s process, who the “bigger” audiophile in her family is and which high-end turntable proves the point, and why gauging the correct microphone distance is absolutely crucial for how her commanding vocal range is captured in the studio. . .

Continue Reading >
News
David Bowie’s Waiting in the Sky (Before the Starman Came to Earth) Limited Edition LP Is an RSD Exclusive Earmarked to Arrive on April 20, Featuring Four Non-Ziggy Stardust Tracks
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 17, 2024  |  First Published: Jan 17, 2024  |  3 comments

The Starman takes to the skies yet again — or rather, he’s taking another spin (or three) on our turntables. To that end, Parlophone has just announced the release of David Bowie’s Waiting in the Sky (Before the Starman Came to Earth) as a Record Store Day LP exclusive on April 20. Read on to find out about the source material and to see how the Waiting tracklisting differs from that of Bowie’s seminal 1972 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars album. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
MoFi Electronics MasterDeck Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 16, 2024  |  First Published: Jan 16, 2024  |  7 comments

Some of our favorite turntable masters are back at it again — and MoFi Electronics latest offering, the MasterDeck turntable, is the proof. Read on to see all the specs and features of the latest and greatest ’table designed by MoFi Electronics maestro Allen Perkins. . .

Continue Reading >
AAA VinylNews
Craft Recordings and Acoustic Sounds Announce the Next 12 AAA 180g LP Titles in Their Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series That Will Be Released Throughout 2024, Commencing February 23
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 11, 2024  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2024  |  2 comments

Craft Recordings and Acoustic Sounds have just announced the latest entries in their rightly acclaimed Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds series. An even-dozen AAA 180g 1LP titles will be released all throughout 2024, starting on February 23. Read on to see which titles will be in this rightfully acclaimed AAA LP reissue series, and when they’re coming. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Music Hall MMF-9.3 SE Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 10, 2024  |  First Published: Jan 10, 2024  |  0 comments

While CES 2024 rolls on, we wanted to take some time to tip our collective analog hat to Music Hall — the brainchild of noted product designer Roy Hall — a company that has been making sweet music, er, sweet gear for us all since 1998. Back in December 2023, the company announced a change in ownership — a new venture named Turntable USA, who plan to uphold Music Hall’s reputation for making high-quality products. Read on to see how we honor the company’s 25-year-plus legacy and what’s to come with our look at what Music Hall’s penultimate MMF-9.3 SE turntable has to offer right here, right now. . .

Continue Reading >

Pages

X